Ribbon-feed mechanism for type-writing machines.



y f E.' BIRCH &. Jg. S.P0LY

1 RIBBONy 'FEED MEGHANIsMiFo-R TYPE, WRITING4 MAGHINES- APPLICATION FILED MAR- 5 15.071 l ssamm-SHEET?.

{Noga-59,73?" PATENTEDJULYQ, 19072.

No. 859,732. BATHNTBB IULYQ, 1907. I. H. BIRCH & J. s. BOBBY. RIBBON .FHBB MBGHANISM BOB IYBB WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1907.

wrm Es s55 UNITED STATES PATENT onirica. y

.T HENRY BIRCH AND JAMES SAMUEL' FOLEY, GEWEST BROMWICH, NEAR BIRMINGHAM,

` ENGLAND. Y

l RIBBON-FEED Miioiaanrsrak Fortl TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907. v

Application filed March 5,1907. Serial No. 360,722.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JOHN HENRY Bison' and .Lines SAMUEL FOLE Y, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at High street, West Bromwich, .near Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Feed Mechanism for Type- Writing Machines, of Whichthe following is a specification. i

This invention has relation to ribbon feed mechan- .ism or type inking devices for type-Writing machines of that type in which the ribbon is wound on a pair. of reels, spools or drums, which when'the'machine is in use, are actuated so that the ribbon is let off one reel and taken up by the other,'jand when one reel is emptied the'mechanism is automatically reversedand the reel which was lpreviously letting ofi ribbon is driven in the opposite direction and made to act as'the takeup reel for Winding on the ribbon, while the' other reel which was taking up the ribbon commences to pay out the same, so that the feed is never. arrestedrwhen the feed motion.

machine is in use.-

The principal object oi the present .invention is to provide an improved and simplified form ofgmechanism for effecting the aforesaid automatic yreversa'lot the Figure l of the accompanying drawingsrepresents a iront elevation of the improved ribbon feed `mechanism constructed in accordance with athis. invention.

This `View shows the parts in the positions Athey assume when the right hand reel is 'winding on ribbon, and the tion showing more clearlyY the means by which the reversingof the reels is automatically reversed. Fig. 7

is a side elevation of the mechanism.l Fig. v8 shows in elevation the ratchet mechanism by whihchithe ribbon-feed mechanism is actuated. "Fig 9 isanother vertical section showing the automatically" reversing device. Fig 10 'is a rear view of. the mechanism. Fig. f3.1 is a section showingthe partsrof theautomatic reversing means in` theirnormal position. Fig. 12 is a similar view when one reel has been emptied, the di rection of rotation'being about lto be reversed. Fig. 13

shows inside elevation and -plan the lifter by which the shield, o verivliidrthe ribbon passes, is lifted. e I

The letterslof reierenceindicate corresponding parts in each of theseveral g'ures.

Two reels or spools l and 2 (to which the ends of the ribbon 3 are respectively made fast by means of clips or other suitable means) are loosely mounted on a common spindle 4 adapted to be rotated within bearings in Athe opposite sides of a frame 5 which is attached` to the back or other convenient part of the typewriting niachine. This spindle 4 receives its motion -rom a' pawl 6 actuated ,by any suitable moving part of the machine, and engaging with a ratchet wheel 6a secured to the spindle, Whilerotatory motion is transmitted from the latter to one or other of the reels 1 and 2 by moans of a change-over clutch device 7 mounted on the spin- `dle, and arranged to drive either one or other of the reels, this .ch'angingwver'being etfected automatically by the emptying of the reels, as hereinafter described. 'llie said change-over y,.lurtch 7 consists of two disks or circular plates 8, 9, mounted at the opposite ends of a y short sleeve'lO or the'likesurrounding thereel-spindle and located between 1the two reels', and rotating with the said spindle but capable of a sliding motion thereon by means of a feather llon thelatter engaging with a longitudinal key-way or channel 12 inthe said clutch.

The peripheriesof the disks aro recessed -or gapped at`13, 14 respectively, while the inner or opposed side of the reelsare provided with projecting studs o1' pins 15, 16, either oiwhich'is adapted when thoclutch dovice is moved'along the spindle to engage with ono oi the gaps in the periphery of` that disk which is moved towards thereel, asilnFig. l, when the drive is trans- Ymitted from the dislc9 to the reel 2,A which will wind on the ribbon, While the .rothcrreel l, Which'is letting off the ribbon, will bbe rotated in the opposite direction by the pull of they ribbon. Whereas, if as shown in Fig. 2 vthe clutch is moved along" the spindle tow-.mls

the letting-off reel l, the winding-on reel will bo disconnected and the stud 01' pin l5 on rcel 1 will engage with the to'othcdllmk 8 and the said roel l will'now bd driven in the opposite direction to b ofm-o, and will Wind on the ribbon, while the otliclA-recl 2 will pay-'ofi' the same,and will be rotated b`y the pull oi the ribbon,

in the opposite direction to that previously; A

The change-over movement of thc clutch 7 is effect od by a hanging member .l7 carried by a rocking beam or cross-plate 1S, centrally pivoted ,at 19 to across-bar 2O of the frame 5, and with the lower ond` of tho hanger situated between the two disks 8 and 9, so that when the said beam 18 is rockcdfinpon itspivot, thc said hanging member 17 is moved to ono sido oi; tho other and so the clutch taken into ongigomcut with one thc reels. 'lhcroclcing oi the cross-beam is automatically oi'- c'ctedfby'thc emptying oieitlxer of the reels, and for `this purpose a pair oi plates 20 cach having a pair oi parallel` projecting tongue-pieces., "21T and 22 respectively, are pivoted z t the opposite ends of a spindle 23 at the back of the frane, and the tongues 22 are adapted to lie on the surface of the ribbon on the respective reels, while the other longues 2l are located on the outer sides of the reels. As the ribbon of one of the reels is gradually paid out, the diameter of the same becomes less, and the tonguepiece 22 lying on its surface follows up the same by the pressure of a spring 24 surrounding the spindle 23, acting on it, and tending to force it towards the axis of the reel. As the outer tongue arm 21 descends, it is adapted wien the reel has become' empty to act on the back oi a pawl 25 and iorce the nose 'of the same into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet-toothed wheel l26, mounted on the reel spindle.

The said pawl is normally kept out of engagement with the ratchet teeth by means of a light spring 27 acting on the underside of the same and is pivoted at its upper end at 28 to a short horizontal arm 29 pivoted in turn to the frame 5 at 30 and with its outer end 31 en gnging in a notch or recess 32 in the side of a downward extension 33 of the rocking beam or cross-piece 18.- When the nose of the pawl is thus taken into engage ment with the ratchet teeth 26 by the emptying of the reel, as the reel spindle 4 continues torotate, the said teeth'will lift the pawl, causing the arm 29 to which it `is pivoted, to move upwards, and will thus raise the end of the rocking arm 18, and a spring 34, acts on the same to take it fully over and disengage the pawl from the teeth, and change the direction of rotation of the reels as afore described. The said spring 34 consi ats of a horizontally disposed flat strip xed at 35 to the iran're 5, and with the outer end formed with two (iownwardly depending ears 36, 37 between which a roller 38 is pivoted, and adapted when the rocking arm 18 is ln a horizontal position, to lie on the apex o a tran.

frame. at 4l and so that the arranged types wh en oper-- ated may strike the ribbon, which latter then passes kback to the filling reel. When this latter is filled the motion oi' the reels will be reversed as above described. Provision is also made for effecting this reversal by hand, and for this purpose the rocking arm or beam 18 is provided at one en'd with a short lever 42 adapted to be operated by hand, by which means the mechanism may be reversed at any time other than when a reel has become empty.

The lifting of the afore mentioned shield or guide 40, by which, the ribbon is led under the types is adapted to be effected by a horizontal rod 43, between ears or the like 44 at the inner end of which one end of a link or bar 45 is pivoted, the other end of which takes over or is pivoted upon the spindle 46 carried by the shield so that when the said-rod 43 isrforced inwards, the said shield is raised, it being understood that the rod 43 works through the frame oi the machine.

The reel spindle 4 is provided with a lateral extension provided with a milled head 47 by which the mechanism may be actuated by hand, so that the ribbon may be adjusted to any position.

Having fully described our invention, what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent ist--y 1. .A reversible ribbon feed mechanism for type-writing machines, comprising two reels loosely mounted upon a spindle-and to which the ends of the ribbon are respectively secured, means for rotating said spindle, a clutch device slidable on, but rotatable with, said spindle, and located between said reels, a. rocking beamfulcrumed to 8. fixed frame, and a member carried by said beam adapted, when the latter is rocked upon its fulcrum, to move the clutch along the spindle to connect either one or other of the reels to the said spindle.

2. A reversible ribbon feed mechanism for type-writing machines, comprising two'reels loosely mounted upon a spindle, and to which the ends of the ribbon are respecj tively secured, means for rotating said spindle, a sleeve slidable on, but rotatable wlth, said spindle and located between said reels, flanges at'the ends of said sleeve, gaps or notches in theperipherles oflsaid flanges, projections carried by the inner o r opposed faces of .said reels, and

rov

means for moving said sleeve along the spindle to canse the projections oflei'ther one or other of said reels to engage with the gaps or notches of one of the flanges.

3. A reversible ribbon feed mechanism for type-writing machines, vcomprising two reels loosely'mounted upon u spindlejand to which the ends of tbe ribbon are' respectively secured, means -for rotating said spindle, a sleeve slidable onbut rotatable with, said spindle, land located between said reels-flanges at theends of'said sleeve, gapsv or notches ln the.'periph'eries of said' flanges, projections carried by the inner or opposed faces of said reels, a rocking besm'fulcrumed to a 'fixed frame, a' member carried by said beam and engaging between the flanges of said sliding clutch sleeve, for moving the latter alohgthe spindle, when the said beam ls rocked, to cause the projections of either one or other of said reels to engage with the gaps of one of the said ilanges.

4. An automatically reversible ribbon feed mechanism forv type-writing machines, comprisingv two reels loosely mounted upon a spindle and to which the ends of the ribbon lare respectively secured, means for rotating said splnl die, a clutch device slidable on, but rotatable witlifsaid spindle and located between said reels, follower members bearing 'upon the ribbon on said reels, teeth or projections carried by-the reel spindle, swinging members adapted to co-operate with said teeth, means for ngrmally keeping said swinging members out of engagement with said teeth, members carried by said follower members, adapted, when therlbbon is wound oil? one reel to act upon one of said swinging members and take same into engagement with' said teeth, u rocking beam fulcrumed to a vfixed frame,l a member carried by said beam adapted, when the latter is rocked, to move the clutch along the spindle to connect one or other reel to the spindle, und means for raising one end of said beam when one of the swinging members is engaged with the teeth.

5. An automatically reversible ribbon feed mechanism for type-writing machines, comprising two reels loosely mounted upon a spindle and toA which the ends of the ribbon are respectively secured, means for rotating said spindle, alclutch device slidable on, but rotatable with, said spindle and located between said reels, follower-elements bearing upon the ribbon on said reels, members carried by suid follower-elements, vpawis carried by jointed or pivoted members, and adapted to be acted upon`by. said members carried by the followers, when one reel is empty, ratchet teeth carried by the reel spindle, adapted to bey engged by said pawls when the latter are acted upon, means for normally keeping said pawis out of engagement with said ratchets, a rocking beam fulcrumed to a n'xed frame, a member carried by said beam adapted t9 move Athe clutch along the spindle to engage witlrone or other of ths'reels, und the ends vof said rocking beam engaged'by the said pivoted pawl-carrying members.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.. JOHN .HENRY BIRCH, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY. Witnesses:

-HnNnY Sxnnsm, HENRY NonroN Sxnnnmr.

ist 

